How things look through an Oregonian's eyes

July 15, 2012

My senior citizen skateboarding: days 1 & 2

Yeah, I did it. Got a skateboard. Longboard, actually. They're different breeds of the same four-wheeled animal. Quite different critters.

Skateboards are all tricky; longboards are for cruising, carving, dancing. I thought about the pros and cons of jumping into longboarding at the age of 63 (see here and here).

Then my inner voice, which hopefully isn't a senile or self-destructive one, spoke to me. "Dude, do it!" Since it used the word dude, I trusted the voice. Figured it was in tune with the skateboarding vibe.

After talking with the dudes at Salem's Exit Real World skateboard/snowboard shop, I settled on a Landyachtz longboard, The Switch. The description appealed to me, even though I have no idea what the "new school freeride movement" is.

Sure seems like something I need to be a part of, whatever it is.

Our premier freeride specific board which has helped define the emerging ride style of today's longboarder. This board has given riders of all levels the chance to experience the new school freeride movement making stand up slides and drifting easier than ever.

I like: how the platform is dropped low; it feels stable... how the board is symmetrical, so I can't get it pointed the wrong way... how there's "dropped hips" (sounds like my aging body) at each end where my feet can get pretty much locked in.

If you are a 50'ish AARP member or even -- gasp! -- a social security recipient (I'm both) who is considering getting a longboard, my main message is what I said above. Dude, do it!

After you think about it. Like I did.

I'm physically fit. I do Tai Chi. I ballroom dance. I regularly lift weights and do the ellipical trainer aerobic thing. I'm handling my longboard quite well after just an hour or so of practicing. Video evidence below. Many fellow senior citizens could follow in my Vans-clad footsteps.

Step 1 at the skateboard shop: tell the salesman, "I want to look cool, even if I end up longboarding like shit."

Step 2: be safe. I ended up buying a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and gloves. So far I've only worn the knee pads and gloves, because I've been practicing at slow speeds on flat ground. When I go out on a road, the helmet and elbow pads will go on also.

I've ridden a big Suzuki Burgman 650 scooter for three years, never failing to wear a full set of protective gear every time I get on it. (I'm selling the scooter, figuring that one risky activity at a time is enough for me; the skateboard shop dudes, by the way, told me that longboarding is way safer than motorcycling/scootering; I agree.)

So I'm used to reducing risk by wearing the right gear. Us senior citizen skateboarders need to be particularly attentive to this, given that we heal more slowly than younger folk.

In my two days of practicing, I've had a few stumbles, but no falls. I've even been able to hold my iPhone while I recorded some on-board video action. My wife said, "Who wants to see where you're going, without seeing you on the board?"

Well, I'm not expecting my Senior Citizen Skateboarder series will go viral on You Tube. And soon I'll share some third-person view videos of me in my oh-so-cool Vans shoes doing whatever I'm able to do on my longboard.

Which is, so far, push off... go in a straight line... stop by a foot drag... make sweeping turns on flat ground.

Tomorrow, though, down Pikes Peak! Well, maybe after quite a few tomorrows. Here's what I've been up to on day 1 and day 2 of my longboarding.

You inspired me to try longboarding. I am 58 years old and just bought a Never Summer, Swift longboard ("the luxury cruise liner of longboards," sayeth Dogfunk).

It is really smooth and the slope of the driveway and roads near here are just fine for cruising. Northeast Iowa (Dubuque) is not as flat as you might think. I definitely need some protective gear though.

Going fast and smooth down hill seems to be my new obsession. It brings back memories of insane downhill speed on my old skateboard from ~1964, but that one had impossibly hard wheels that skidded on every little stone on the street -- ouch! The Swift longboard is so smooth and even runs over acorns on the driveway.

Jim, congratulations! You must be good at stopping/sliding if you into going fast down hill. I've been too busy to practice much lately. I can foot break OK at slow speeds, but am clueless about stopping at higher speeds. Got to begin figuring out the whole sliding thing at some point.

Don't get me wrong... Going fast and smooth down a hill on a longboard truly is my obsession, but obsessed is not the same as attained.

As you say, the key is learning to stop and sliding seems to be the best way to stop at high speeds. Now I am obsessed with learning how to slide and stop so I can actually fulfil my obsession. I may try those gloves with "pucks" on the palms as brakes.

The is a cul de sac at the end of my downhill goal. Maybe I can learn to turn sharply enough to slow down.

I'm 60 years old and a widower. I've been off skateboards since the 1970s. I bought a Kryptonite 23 inch board recently and I'm trying to ride it. Might need a longer board (I'm pretty top-heavy), but I'm determined!

I am a 56 y/o woman who got her first skateboard at age 6. It was red plywood, with steel roller-skate wheels (maybe just an inch wide). It was love, long lasting, love. I skated until I was 19 then quit. Guess I thought I had better things to do.

Now I can't seem to get this burning desire out of my head. I MUST SKATE. I am fit, athletic, and not afraid of what others think. In fact, I make it my mission to break down all notions of what should, could, can't, be done when you are young, old, man, or woman.

I am 64 and have been contemplating taking up skateboarding too. I was an avid cyclist but Honolulu's miserable traffic and roads discourages me. I now do Zumba 4 times a week so I am relatively fit. Plus I can take a fall pretty well. Stumbling upon your blog is convincing me to take the plunge. I'm like you - my mental age trails my physical age by years/decades.
Byron

Hi, how are you? Are you still getting out on the longboard? I've just started at 54. Did a bit of skateboarding as a teenager but not that much and have messed about on my kids ones over the years. Went for my first snow holiday February last year and fell in love with snowboarding. We have just come back from our second trip a couple of weeks ago. I have been really missing the feeling of being on a board, so after some research decided to try a longboard. It arrived this week and I've been out on it twice, making good progress already. It was love at first ride and I can see my board becoming my new best friend!
Your blogs have been a real inspiration and I have really enjoyed reading them. Can we have an update of if your still boarding or not please?
All the best
Barry

Barry, I've gone through some exercise evolving. About three years ago I discovered the joy of the Streetstrider, an outdoor elliptical bike. It gave me much of the same fun as longboarding with a land paddle -- plus, now I had 8 gears and I could stop easily!

So that led me to donate my longboading gear to a Portland skate coalition outfit. They were happy to get it. Now, after three years of Streetstriding, I decided to donate the outdoor elliptical bike to a nonprofit group here in Salem that helps poorer people and the homeless get around on bikes. They were able to sell the Streetstrider.

I enjoyed longboard land paddling, but I found that I could get the same amount of exercise and fun through a safer and easier means. I was fanatic about wearing protective gear on the longboard, so I enjoyed being able to hop onto a bike and just take off without having to put on a helmet, knee pads, wrist protectors, etc.

Have fun with your longboard. I liked my three years of playing with mine, though I never did feel comfortable stopping at speed.

I'm 65 and still street skating, with a short board and carver trucks, never needing to push, pump it as your sidewalk surfing. I Love it, I've been skating since the steel wheel time, although gave it up until I was. 50. After skating for the last 15, all I can say is skate until you die, or just can't possibly skate anymore. What ever your passion stand on! Thanks.

Lots of older [and younger] newbs go for longboarding then fall at speed. OUCH!
Getting a narrow shortboard with small wheels that most young kids ride has been my thing.
I barely roll around, only at slow speeds and on near totally flat ground, just tick tacking, 180's 360's and manuals and stuff.
I fall a lot on concrete at 1-4 mph. I try to fall a lot. Martial arts styles.
I want to learn to handstand while rolling slow

I'm 56 and my whole approach seems quite different.
I'm not after a speed thrill, an adrenaline rush or even some light cruisey joy with the wind in my wrinkles and my greying locks floating in the breeze.
No one sees me skate.
For me, its all about strengthening the core, getting lean and hard [cough] perfecting balance and the mental conditioning of perfecting a routine, similar to figure skating.
Its a lot like tai chi.
If I cant reach a state of nibbana while handstanding and 360-ering my way into my 80's
I will have attained my goal.